Things to Tell

Chapter Four - This Could Take Some Getting Used To.

'Did you tell anyone that I was her father?' Nick asked Miley, watching as Hayley dug in the sandpit.

'Lilly knows, but she hasn't told anyone, and I only told my mum today. No one else knows.' confirmed Miley, shivering in the wind.

'You're cold. Here.' Nick said, taking off his coat and wrapping it around Miley.

'Thanks' she replied gratefully. 'Wait, wasn't your mum supposed to be coming?'

'I ditched her at the station and ran here. Knowing her, she'll be taking to everyone she knows that lives here.' Nick laughed.

'That does sound like your mum.' agreed Miley, moving closer to Nick on the bench.

'I'm going to be in deep shit when my mum finds out we've got a kid.'

'Like, worse shit that what I was in? because that's not possible.' Miley smirked. 'When I was four months gone and I knew I couldn't hide it, I told her. Her first question was 'whos the father.' I said I didn't know because it was easier than explaining about you. Then, for the next zillion months whenever I went out she'd phone like every five minutes to ask where I was, like I was some sort of maniac sex addict.'

'That doesn't sound like your mum!' Nick exclaimed, wrapping his arm around Miley's shoulder.

'Wait a minute - you said your dad wouldn't let you come back and see me. How are you here?'

'My mum and I done a midnight escape. She's always trying to convince him to let me see you.'

'MILEY! Is that really you?' Denise exclaimed, running over to the girl on the bench next to her son.

'Its me.' Miley smiled, hugging Denise.

'You look so different.' Denise said, 'You look beautiful, not that I'm saying you weren't beautiful before or anything.'

Miley blushed slightly.

'Are you coming or not?' Hayley asked cheekily. Miley sighed and lifted her up.

'Don't talk to me like that. Say sorry.'

'Sorry.' mumbled Hayley, hiding her head in Miley's shoulder.

Nick, seeing this was the moment of truth, walked over and took Miley's free hand.

'I didn't know Tish was pregnant. I thought she'd have told me, but, oh well.' Denise shrugged.

'You didn't know because my mum wasn't pregnant.' Miley stuttered.

'Hayley's my daughter.' Nick said confidently, not wanting Miley to go through any more confusion.

'What? You didn't………….' Denise began, but both Miley and Nick knew she wasn't mad.

'It was the night before we left for New Jersey.' Nick explained.

Miley sat on Nick's lap as the rain thundered down outside. They had their arms wrapped around each other.

'Im going to really miss you.' Miley wept, her mascara smudging.

'I wish my dad hadn't taken the job. Its so unfair.' Nick growled, using his hand to wipe Miley's tears away.

'Keep in contact as much as possible, ok? We've been together so long, and now we're going to be on opposite sides of the states.' Miley chuckled. 'Its so unfair.'

'Twelve years friendship. Best friends. No one can take that away from us, Mi. Remember that.' Nick smiled, kissing the side of her head.

'Remember me.' Miley choked, starting to pull off her t-shirt.

'Mi, you don't need to do this.' Nick said, putting his hands over hers. He looked into her eyes and the blue pools were a lot more watery than usual.

'I don't need to, but I want to. It feels right.' she said truthfully, throwing her t-shirt to the side. She reached behind her and unclasped her bra.

'It all just happened.' Miley confessed. 'Neither of us expected it to go that far. But it did and we got the short end of the straw.'

'Well, Nick, why don't you Miley and Hayley (it is Hayley, isn't it)- go back to Mileys. I need to discuss some things with Tish.' Denise said, looking at her watch. 'Oh, and Nick, we leave in two days.'

'Yes mum.' mumbled Nick, downhearted at the prospect of leaving Miley (and Hayley) again.


'She's asleep.' said Miley, emerging from the staircase.

'I cant believe how much you actually changed.' Nick said, handing her a cup of hot chocolate as she sat on the couch next to him.

'In what way have I changed, Nick?' smirked Miley, who was interested to know what he noticed most about her.

'Um, er, well, its - you've'

'Nick, youre sta-aa-ling.' sang Miley, starting to giggle.

'I cant think of a way to answer that question without sounding a total pervert.' admitted Nick. 'Oh, wait - yeah, there is a way. You've got taller.'

Miley burst out laughing.

'I'm tired.' mumbled Miley, lying across Nick's lap. Nick lifted her up and carried her to her room. He laid her in her bed and climbed in next to her. Before long their breathing became in sync as Nick fell asleep.